West Tisbury

I think of all the flowers in my garden the day lily is my favorite. From the humble orange species, Hemerocallis Fulva, that lines our roadsides in a blazing midsummer display, to the subtle colors of Lullaby Baby and Joan Senior (shell pink and creamy white, respectively) the day lily provides an endless show. For an artist, it is akin to an ever-changing painting, arranged anew every morning. One morning I awake to a stately stand of yellow Hyperion, an old-fashioned, fragrant variety, then golden Mary Todd that threads through the garden from many dividings. The gold gives way to peach and pink and last to bloom is Quansoo, a double orange-red almost as tall as I am, a gift from Margaret Logue several summers ago.

People often tell me they love reading about my garden. Lest you be disappointed, it is neither pristine nor complete. It has the soft edges of my paintings. Unplanted pots stand at the ready. There are still last year’s leaves hidden under this year’s foliage in some places. The energy and scale I designed in my 30-year-old mind has acceded to a 60-year-old body and lack of time. Still, I find it beautiful. I guess it’s a work in progress, as am I.

Speaking of gardens, the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold their monthly meeting at the Old Mill on Tuesday, July 19, at 1 pm. Don Sibley will speak about Bonsai: Its History and Practice. Admission is free to members, $5 for guests. Call 508-693-5334 for more information.

“No Rest for the Wicket” was the title of an article in last Sunday’s Boston Globe Magazine. West Tisbury’s own Jim Turner was interviewed in the story about tournament croquet, one of Jim’s many talents and passions.

Belated happy birthday wishes to Katie Morse, who turned 10 on July 2. A party, held by her parents, Chris and Sheila, was attended by great-grandmother Louise, grandparents Warren and Judy, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Katie’s twin sisters, Andrea and Juliette.

Jonas Plaut celebrated his 11th birthday on July 8 by taking the day off from camp for what has become his traditional birthday activity — a day out fishing. Jonas caught seven fish, a goodly outing even if it wasn’t his birthday. The rest of his day was spent with visiting cousins. Jonas is the son of Josh and Lori Plaut.

Happy birthday on July 12 to Betsey Mayhew, who still looks just the same as when I met her almost 30 years ago.

If you like to sing, come and join renowned artist Melanie DeMore for two workshops and a concert. Melanie, who sang with Pete Seeger, Odetta, and Sweet Honey in the Rock, will conduct workshops at the Grange Hall on Tuesday, July 19, 5 pm, and at the Charter School on Friday, July 22, at 6 pm. Participants can sing in the concert on Saturday evening, July 23, at Union Chapel. Paul Karasik says, “You don’t have to read music, just love to sing.” Call Marsha Winsryg for more information, 508-693-4059.

Come to the Ag Hall Wednesday evening, July 20, at 8 pm for a special event, “An Evening with David McCullough,” sponsored by the West Tisbury Library Foundation. Tickets are $35, available at the library, Alley’s, or on ticketsMV.

Anyone (other than Mike Hull) cleaning out their bookcase or weeding their collection, please consider the Friends of the West Tisbury Library’s upcoming book sale. It is their big fundraiser of the year. Money raised benefits the library and all of us in so many ways. Donations may be delivered to the MVRHS cafeteria from 8:30 to noon on weekday mornings.

Lots of library programs this week: Saturday, July 16, 4 pm, “Getting into Genealogy” with Patricia Stano-Carpenter, President of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogy, Inc. Nancy DeVille will read from her book, “Healthy, Sexy, Happy,” Monday, July 18, at 5:30 pm. Tuesday evening at 6 pm, the library will host a poetry reading by Wendy Wising and Leah Neilsen. Thursday evening at 5, come to hear Linda Levy discuss her book, “A Kingdom of Madness.” All events are free and everyone is welcome.

Former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and singer/saxophone and flute player Stan Strickland will perform together at “An Evening of Poetry and Jazz” next Thursday evening, July 21, at Featherstone. The program begins at 7 pm.

Sitting at Danny Bryant’s memorial gathering last Sunday afternoon, I thought about how much the Ag Hall has become the place of so many West Tisbury rites and events. Marriages, memorials, dances, and dinners — we all seem to congregate there. Many of us are as familiar with that kitchen as we are with our own. West Tisbury comes together better than anywhere else, and I am so grateful for my friends and my town.